title: Fuller Brush Company Records

label: Creator

content: Fuller Brush Company

indexedContent: Fuller Brush Company

label: Place

content: Connecticut -- Hartford

indexedContent: Connecticut

content: Kansas

indexedContent: Kansas

label: Topic

content: Advertising copy

indexedContent: Advertising copy

content: Advertising, Point-of-sale

indexedContent: Advertising, Point-of-sale

content: Broom and brush industry

indexedContent: Broom and brush industry

content: Door-to-door selling

indexedContent: Door-to-door selling

content: Household supplies

indexedContent: Household supplies

content: Print Advertising

indexedContent: Print Advertising

content: Sales promotion

indexedContent: Sales promotion

content: Traveling sales personnel

indexedContent: Traveling sales personnel

content: Manufacturing

indexedContent: Manufacturing

content: Cosmetics industry

indexedContent: Cosmetics industry

content: Industry -- U.S.

indexedContent: Industry

content: Direct selling

indexedContent: Direct selling

content: Businesspeople

indexedContent: Businesspeople

content: Marketing

indexedContent: Marketing

content: Radio broadcasts

indexedContent: Radio broadcasts

content: Product demonstrations

indexedContent: Product demonstrations

label: Provenance

content: Collection donated by the Fuller Brush Company through David Sabin, 2018.

content: Fuller Brush Company

content: Fuller Brush Company Records

indexedContent: Fuller Brush Company Records

label: Summary

content: The collection documents the Fuller Brush Company founded by Alfred C. Fuller in 1906.

label: Historical

content:
Founded in 1906 by Alfred C. Fuller in Hartford, Connecticut, the Fuller Brush Company predominately sold a wide range of cleaning products, marketed for personal care, housekeeping, and commercial users. Mostly a direct-selling company, it is perhaps best known for its independent, door-to-door salesmen, a figure referred to in popular culture as "the Fuller Brush Man." Calling on the housewives of America, the Fuller Brush Man would visit households with a gift, flyers, and a case full of samples, with which he would demonstrate the use of cleaning implements of various shapes and sizes. Through techniques such as developing new products based on customer feedback, and providing a satisfaction guarantee by allowing for product returns during the Fuller Brush Man's next visit, the Fuller Brush Company inspired new levels of trust and credibility in direct selling. In return, the company reaped massive profits. During the peak of the company's popularity, in around the 1950s, the Fuller Brush Man was a ubiquitous part of the American landscape, alluded to in comic strips, radio programs, and popular films, such as the 1948 Red Skelton comedy The Fuller Brush Man and the 1950 comedy The Fuller Brush Girl, starring Lucille Ball.

The Fuller Brush Company continually used its resources to promote and establish the identity of the Fuller Brush Man, to its own salespeople as well as the public. Traditional print advertisements were supplemented with extensive publicity coverage, carefully crafted by the Fuller Brush Company's advertising and public relations team. The company fostered a culture of achievable aspiration among new recruits, through in-house publications, which celebrated the accomplishments of fellow dealers, incentive programs, and a career ladder pipeline, which allowed high achieving salesmen to advance from independent dealers to regional sales managers--who were considered formal employees of the Fuller Brush Company. Some sales managers became local celebrities in their districts, adding their own charisma to the development of the Fuller Brush Man--such as New York District's Al Teetsel--whose "Fine and Dandy" personal motto established a cult following. Other Fuller Brush Company salesmen used the Fuller Brush Man's distinctive optimism, pluck, and perseverance to later become celebrities in their own right, such as evangelist Billy Graham, who attributed his high school days as a successful Fuller Brush Man to his future success.

While the Fuller Brush Company is best known for its door-to-door network of Fuller Brush Men, and its household products division, the company experimented with various channels of distribution and other specialized products during its over 100-year history. The Fuller Brush Company produced implements to clean guns during World War II, and in 1945 was honored with the E Award for its war effort contributions. In the 1940s, the Fuller Brush Company introduced female salespeople, or "Fullerettes" to their door-to-door ranks (mostly to promote their Debutante Cosmetics line, released by Daggett & Ramsdell, Inc. in 1948). The company returned to actively recruiting Fullerettes in 1966, and thereafter welcomed distributors of either sex. The company's Machine Division produced the mast for the sailboat "Columbia" in 1958, and in the 1960s, its Marine Division produced items for the maintenance of nautical equipment. Around the 1960s, its Household Division incorporated new items such as vitamins and hormone treatments into its personal care product line. The company experimented with retail brick-and-mortar locations, and, in 1974, instigated a telemarketing program. After 1985, the Fuller Brush Company began to move away from door-to-door sales techniques, redeveloping its sale channel distribution system to include mail order catalogs, a secure sales website for distributors, network-marketing techniques, and a reinterpretation of sales territories for distributors where district territories began to blur in favor of nationwide sales opportunities.

Founded in Hartford, Connecticut, the company remained in the region through the 1960s, though the company shifted locations to larger offices and manufacturing facilities as it grew. In 1960, operational facilities and headquarters moved to a large, custom-built campus in East Hartford, Connecticut. However, in 1968, the company was acquired by the Kitchens of Sara Lee, Inc. (then a part of the Consolidated Foods Corporation). During the 1970s the Fuller Brush Company experienced rapid changes in administration and organization. Under President Nat Zivin, headquarters relocated to Niles, Illinois in 1973. Later the same year, headquarters and operations moved to a large manufacturing facility in Great Bend, Kansas. The company remained a division of Sara Lee until 1989.

The Fuller Brush Company grew to involve multiple subsidiaries, including many that were international. The Fuller Brush Company established a wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary in 1921, called the Fuller Brush Company, Limited. In 1942, the Fuller Brush Company bought out a competitor, the Albany, New York-based Mohawk Brush Company. The "bristlecomb" hairbrush, introduced by the Mohawk Brush Company in 1928, remained one of the Fuller Brush Company's signature products. In 1961, the Fuller Brush Company founded and incorporated Charter Supply Corporation as a wholly-owned Mohawk subsidiary. Charter Products operated as a "private label" division, to rebrand duplicate products. The Fuller Brush Company also owned subsidiaries in Mexico; in 1968, the Fuller Brush Company held 100% interest in House of Fuller, S.A. and Charter de Mexico, S.A., both established in Mexico. Also in 1968, the Fuller Brush Company was a partial owner of House of Fuller (Jamaica), Ltd. The Fuller Brush Company conducted business around the world, including dealings in England, France, Jamaica, Trinidad, Puerto Rico, Spain, and Venezuela.

With growth came legal challenges. The Green River Ordinance, established in 1931, placed limits on door-to-door sales. The Fuller Brush Company challenged the ordinance, when it went to the Supreme Court in 1937. Over the course of its history, the Fuller Brush Company weathered lawsuits ranging from trademark disputes to labor treatment complaints from area managers in Puerto Rico.

After the sale by Sara Lee in 1989, the Fuller Brush Company was held by a series of private owners, including Lee Turner and Stuart A. Ochiltree. In June 1994, CPAC, Inc. purchased the company. In 1995, CPAC, Inc. also bought a longtime competitor of the Fuller Brush Company, Stanley Home Products, a company founded in 1929 by Stanley Beverage, a former sales vice president for the Fuller Brush Company. The two companies became siblings under the same parent organization; items from the Stanley Home Products line were sold by Fuller Brush Company distributors, and manufactured at the Fuller Brush Company plant in Great Bend. In 2012, both the Fuller Brush Company and Stanley Home Products filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The companies merged their product lines and catalogs, eliminating equivalent products, to cut costs and streamline operations.

In December 2012, David Sabin and Chicago-based private equity firm Victory Park Capital purchased the Fuller Brush Company. The company headquarters moved to Napa Valley, California. Facing increased financial difficulties, in 2016 the company began to phase out its independent distributor system and domestic manufacturing operations. Around January 2018, the company was sold to Galaxy Brush LLC of Lakewood, New Jersey.

label: Biographical

content:
Alfred C. Fuller (January 13, 1885 - December 4, 1973), was founder and first president of the Fuller Brush Company, as well as the "original Fuller Brush Man." He was born in rural Nova Scotia, to parents Leander Joseph Fuller and Phebe Jane Collins. The eleventh of twelve children, Fuller took pride in the resilient and self-sufficient spirit he developed growing up on a Nova Scotian farm, and valued such qualities throughout his life over formal education. Long after his success, he promoted himself as an average man among average men.

In 1903, at age eighteen, Alfred Fuller left his family home in Nova Scotia, and followed siblings who settled in the United States. He moved in with his sister Annie and her husband, Frank Adler, in Somerville, Massachusetts. After a series of odd jobs, Fuller considered trying his hand at selling brushes (he was inspired by a brother, Dwight, who made and sold brushes before his death by tuberculosis in 1901). Alfred discovered a knack for trade; unlike many other direct salesmen at the time, his sales technique emphasized product demonstrations. Eventually, Fuller decided to make his own brushes. He set up a workbench in his sister's basement in January 1906. Four months later, he moved to Hartford, Connecticut where he founded the Fuller Brush Company.

The rapid success of the company, improved Alfred C. Fuller's romantic prospects. With the enthusiastic support of his sister, Annie, Alfred initiated a courtship with a Nova Scotian woman who had formerly caught his eye, Evelyn Ellis. They were married on April 10, 1908. However, the marriage was strained, and they divorced in 1930. In 1932, Alfred Fuller remarried. His second wife, Mary Primrose Pelton, was also Nova Scotian, the daughter of a judge from Yarmouth. They remained together for the rest of his life.

Alfred C. Fuller and his first wife Evelyn had two sons. Alfred Howard was born in 1913 and Avard in 1916. Both would later rise to prominence within the Fuller Brush Company, serving as its second and third presidents. The elder son, Howard, was Fuller Brush Company President from 1943 until 1959. From an early age, Howard challenged his father regarding the direction of the company. With his bold and aggressive personality, Howard was able to institute changes to the company that resulted in higher profits, such as distributing catalogs before the salesman's visit, shortening product demonstrations, prioritizing many small sales over few large sales, and developing other techniques that emphasized speed and efficiency. However, his temperament also contributed to Howard and his wife Dora's untimely deaths. Howard, always interested in thrilling, high-risk pursuits (such as driving sports cars, piloting airplanes, and racing speedboats and sailboats) was cruising through Nevada at 120-miles per hour for a business trip, uncharacteristically accompanied by his wife, when his Mercedes-Benz 300 SL blew a tire. Both Fullers died in the accident.

Following the tragic accident, Avard assumed leadership of the Fuller Brush Company. Avard's more conservative nature ushered in an era of leadership where his father, Alfred C. Fuller, rose in honor and influence with the company. However, Avard relied on traditional sales strategies (such as promoting a culture around the Fuller Brush Man, rather than take a more active strategy toward integrating female distributors) which placed the Fuller Brush Company at a disadvantage with competitors such as Avon Cosmetics. Avard served as President of the Fuller Brush Company until 1969.

Although Alfred C. Fuller never reclaimed presidency of the Fuller Brush Company, he remained chairman emeritus for the duration of his life. A treasured company figurehead, celebrations were held in his honor long after his retirement. In 1956, a testimonial dinner was held where a portrait of Fuller was unveiled in honor of the 50-year anniversary of the Fuller Brush Company. In 1965, Alfred C. Fuller was further honored, when his birthplace was dedicated as a historic landmark. Alfred C. Fuller was known as "Dad" Fuller to the thousands of Fuller Brush Men and Fullerettes who represented the company door-to-door throughout the country, and made frequent appearances in in-house publications and external publicity. Working with Hartzell Spence, Alfred C. Fuller wrote an autobiography, titled A Foot in the Door, published by the McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. in 1960. A practicing Christian Scientist with a devout Methodist mother, Fuller frequently alludes to the influence of his faith in his autobiography. Alfred C. Fuller passed away on December 4, 1973.

label: Extent

content: 32.5 Cubic feet (77 boxes, 1 map-folder)

flag: certainty:approximate datechar:creation normal:1890/2017 type:inclusive

label: Identifier

content: Collection descriptions

content: Archival materials

content: Articles

indexedContent: Articles

content: Clippings

indexedContent: Clippings

content: Ledgers (account books)

indexedContent: Ledgers (account books)

content: Letters (correspondence)

indexedContent: Letters (correspondence)

content: Motion picture film

indexedContent: Motion picture film

content: Newsletters

indexedContent: Newsletters

content: Photographs

content: Printed materials

indexedContent: Printed materials

content: Programs (documents)

indexedContent: Programs (documents)

content: Reports

indexedContent: Reports

content: Sales catalogs

indexedContent: Sales catalogs

content: Sales records

indexedContent: Sales records

content: Trade catalogs

indexedContent: Trade catalogs

content: Trade literature

indexedContent: Trade literature

content: Training manuals

indexedContent: Training manuals

content: Financial statements

indexedContent: Financial statements

content: Market surveys

indexedContent: Market surveys

content: Business records

indexedContent: Business records

label: Citation

content: Fuller Brush Company Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

content:
Collection is arranged into thirteen series. Unless otherwise noted, material is arranged chronologically.

Series 1: Historical background, 1916-2001

Series 2: Corporate records, 1917-2010 (bulk 1973-1976)

Series 3: Marketing, 1941-2013

Series 4: Operational records, 1913-1976 (bulk 1969-1976)

Series 5: Financial materials, 1919-1996

Series 6: Personnel, 1922-1984

Series 7: Sales managers, 1922-1990

Series 8: Distributors, 1921-2006

Series 9: Publications, 1920-1999

Series 10: Product materials, 1912-2017

Series 11: Photographs, circa 1890-2000

Series 12: Press Clippings and Publicity, 1921-2010

Series 13: The Fuller Brush Man and The Fuller Brush Girl, 1947-1953, 2004 (bulk 1947-1952).

content: Processed by Caitlin Sanders, intern, supervised by Vanessa Broussard Simmons, archivist, June-August 2018.

label: Rights

content: Articles -- 20th century

content: Clippings -- 20th century

content: Ledgers (account books) -- 20th century

content: Letters (correspondence) -- 20th century.

content: Motion picture film

content: Newsletters -- 20th century

content: Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- 20th century

content: Printed materials

content: Programs (documents)

content: Reports -- 20th century

content: Sales catalogs

content: Sales records

content: Trade catalogs -- 20th century

content: Trade literature -- 20th century

content: Training manuals -- 20th century

content: Financial statements

content: Market surveys

content: Business records -- 20th century

content: The collection documents the Fuller Brush Company from the early years of its existence. The contents include photographs; ledgers; correspondence; internal reports; manufacturing facility studies; quality control reports; financial statements; sales data; company newsletters, some loose and some in bound form; other internal publications; advertising; trade literature; product manuals; catalogs; training manuals and employee handbooks; company annual reports; convention programs and materials; films; materials relating to employee incentives; vinyl records of radio broadcasts; scripts, pressbooks, and other promotional material for motion pictures; informational audio-cassete tapes; contracts, trial testimonies, and other legal papers; industry surveys and marketing campaign proposals; and clippings and printed materials.

content: Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

content:
Materials in the Archives Center

Stanley Home Products Collection (AC0788)

Earl S. Tupper Papers (AC0470)

Brownie Wise Papers (AC0509)

Ann and Thomas Damigella Collections (AC0583)

Industry on Parade Film Collection, episodes 66, 217 (AC0507)

Materials at the Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Libraries Trade Literature Collection, includes some Fuller Brush Company catalogs;

The Division of Work and Industry, National Museum of American History holds artifacts from the Fuller Brush Company from previous accessions, such as  hairbrushes for women and men (including bristlecomb hairbrushes); shower brushes; toothbrushes; combs; a military brush; brush holders; and similar materials. (AG.A.6645-AG.A.6653; AG.A.6656-AG.A.6666; AG.77-FT-15.0523; ZZ.RSN833134).

The Medicine and Science Division (now Division of Medicine and Science) National Museum of American History holds a general purpose cleaning brush, and a bathroom fixtures cleaning brush from a previous accession (2006.0098).

National Portrait Gallery holds a portrait of Alfred Fuller.

Materials at Other Organizations

Hagley Museum and Library, Manuscripts and Archives Department

Avon Products Inc., Records, 1880-2012

University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center, Archives

Columbia Pictures Records, 1934-1974 (collection #93555)

Includes materials related to the Fuller Brush man and Fuller Brush Girl, 1950.

content:
Artifacts collected along with the acquisition of archival material are held by the Divisions of Work and Industry, and Medicine and Science.

Separated materials assigned to the Division of Work and Industry include a men's tie; buttons; ashtray; charm; and tape measure. See accession 2018.0089.

Separated materials assigned to Division of Medicine and Science include a bathing brush, a dental plate brush, a women's hair brush, a comb cleaner, and toothbrushes. Some items are maintained in original packaging, or are kept with original paper inserts. See accession 2018.0090.

title: Fuller Brush Company Records


unitCode: ACAH

level: item

title: Woman churning butter

label: Collection Creator

content: Keystone View Company

indexedContent: Keystone View Company

content: Maertz, J.F., Department Store (Milwaukee, Wis.).

label: Collection Photographer

content: Rau, William H., 1855-1920

indexedContent: Rau, William H.

content: Stanley-Brown, Joseph, 1858-1941

indexedContent: Stanley-Brown, Joseph

label: See more items in

content: Division of Cultural History Lantern Slides and Stereographs / Series 2: Hillis Better America Lecture Service Lantern Slides / 2.7: General Lectures Slides

label: Container

content: Box 17

label: Archival Repository

label: Type

content: Archival materials

indexedContent: Archival materials

content: Photographs

indexedContent: Photographs

label: Collection Citation

content: Division of Cultural History Lantern Slides and Stereographs, dates, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

label: Collection Rights

content: Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Reproduction permission from Archives Center: reproduction fees may apply.

label: Collection Restrictions

content: Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected lantern slides and stereographs must be handled with gloves.

usage_flag: Large EAD

type: Collection

type: Series

type: Subseries

unittitle: General Lectures Slides

type: Item

unittitle: Woman churning butter

archival_repository: ACAH

title: Woman churning butter


level: file

title: Diamond Ice and Coal Company

content: Hampson, Albert W., 1911-1990 (artist)

indexedContent: Hampson, Albert W., 1911-1990 (artist)

content: Albert W. Hampson Commercial Artwork Collection / Series 3: Commercial Artwork / 3.2: Printed Advertisements and Other Forms of Advertising

content: Box 1, Folder 20

content: Archival materials

content: Albert W. Hampson Commercial Artwork Collection, 1926-1980, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

content: Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: Commercial Artwork

type: File

unittitle: Diamond Ice and Coal Company

digital_assets_available: false

title: Diamond Ice and Coal Company


title: Philadelphia Electric Company

content: Hampson, Albert W., 1911-1990 (artist)

content: Albert W. Hampson Commercial Artwork Collection / Series 3: Commercial Artwork / 3.3: Sketches and Renderings of Point-of-Purchase Displays

content: Box 14, Folder 3

content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History

content: Archival materials

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: Philadelphia Electric Company

title: Philadelphia Electric Company


title: Borden, Incorporated (Reid's Ice Cream)

content: Hampson, Albert W., 1911-1990 (artist)

content: Albert W. Hampson Commercial Artwork Collection / Series 3: Commercial Artwork / 3.4: Point of Purchase Displays

content: Map-folder 7

indexedContent: Archives Center, National Museum of American History

content: Archival materials

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: Point of Purchase Displays

unittitle: Borden, Incorporated (Reid's Ice Cream)

title: Borden, Incorporated (Reid's Ice Cream)


title: Samuels, Stuart

content: Beirne, Barbara T., 1933-2021

indexedContent: Beirne, Barbara T.

label: Collection Donor

content: Morrison, Joan, 1922-2010

indexedContent: Morrison, Joan

content: Morrison, Robert K.

indexedContent: Morrison, Robert K.

content: Joan and Robert K. Morrison Collection

indexedContent: Joan and Robert K. Morrison Collection

content: Joan and Robert K. Morrison Collection / Series 2: Transcripts/Tape Summaries

flag: datechar:creation era:ce type:inclusive

label: Date

content: 1984 February 17

content: Box 13

content: Archival materials

content: Joan and Robert K. Morrison Collection, 1983-1987, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

content:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Some original interviews have restrictions; these have been withheld by the Morrisons until they can get clearances from the interviewees.

label: Scope and Contents note

content: Describes counter-culture.

content:
Collection is open for research.

Tape recordings not available for playback until researcher copies are made; researchers must use transcripts until then.

unittitle: Joan and Robert K. Morrison Collection

unittitle: Transcripts/Tape Summaries

unittitle: Samuels, Stuart

title: Samuels, Stuart


title: 16, Stirling boiler fired with underfeed stoker with superheater, and air heater, Philadelphia Electric Company, Chester Station, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

content: Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence.

content: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Civil Engineering Department

content: Underwood and Underwood

indexedContent: Underwood and Underwood

content: Division of Work and Industry Lantern Slide Collection / Series 1: Engineering / 1.14: Railroad Mileage Maps / 1.14.10: Boilers -- Complete Units

content: undated

content: Box 66, Item 37

content: Archival materials

content: Photographs

content: Division of Work and Industry Lantern Slide Collection, 1758-1945, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

content: Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.

unittitle: Engineering

unittitle: Railroad Mileage Maps

unittitle: Boilers -- Complete Units


title: Silver, Horace

content: Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971

indexedContent: Armstrong, Louis

content: Blake, Eubie (James Herbert), 1883-1983

indexedContent: Blake, Eubie (James Herbert)

content: Darensbourg, Joe, 1906-1985

indexedContent: Darensbourg, Joe

content: Davison, Bill

indexedContent: Davison, Bill

content: Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974

indexedContent: Ellington, Duke

content: Garland, Ed

indexedContent: Garland, Ed

label: Collection Collector

content: Levin, Floyd, 1922-2007

indexedContent: Levin, Floyd

content: Levin, Lucille

indexedContent: Levin, Lucille

content: Morton, Jelly Roll, 1890-1941

indexedContent: Morton, Jelly Roll

content: Wilson, Buster

indexedContent: Wilson, Buster

content: Floyd Levin Jazz Reference Collection

indexedContent: Floyd Levin Jazz Reference Collection

content: Floyd Levin Jazz Reference Collection / Series 5: Artists Files / 5.1: General Materials

label: Sponsor

content: Processing and encoding funded by a grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources.

flag: datechar:creation era:ce normal:1991/1998 type:inclusive

content: 1991 - 1998

content: Box 57, Folder 20

content: Archival materials

content: Floyd Levin Jazz Reference Collection, 1880-2010, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

content: Reproduction restricted due to copyright or trademark. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

content: The collection is open for research. Only reference copies of audiovisual materials may be used.

unittitle: Floyd Levin Jazz Reference Collection

unittitle: Artists Files

unittitle: General Materials

unittitle: Silver, Horace

title: Silver, Horace


title: Roy Milton Orchestra

content: Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971

content: Blake, Eubie (James Herbert), 1883-1983

content: Darensbourg, Joe, 1906-1985

content: Davison, Bill

content: Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974

content: Garland, Ed

content: Levin, Floyd, 1922-2007

content: Levin, Lucille

content: Morton, Jelly Roll, 1890-1941

content: Wilson, Buster

content: Floyd Levin Jazz Reference Collection

indexedContent: Floyd Levin Jazz Reference Collection / Series 5: Artists Files / 5.1: General Materials

flag: datechar:creation era:ce normal:1944/1944 type:inclusive

content: Box 56, Folder 14

indexedContent: Archives Center, National Museum of American History

content: Archival materials

indexedContent: Archival materials

unittitle: Roy Milton Orchestra

title: Roy Milton Orchestra


title: Hartley, W. Douglas

content: Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971

content: Blake, Eubie (James Herbert), 1883-1983

content: Darensbourg, Joe, 1906-1985

content: Davison, Bill

content: Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974

content: Garland, Ed

content: Levin, Floyd, 1922-2007

content: Levin, Lucille

content: Morton, Jelly Roll, 1890-1941

content: Wilson, Buster

content: Floyd Levin Jazz Reference Collection

content: undated

content: Box 42, Folder 19

content: Archival materials

unittitle: Hartley, W. Douglas

title: Hartley, W. Douglas


title: Armstrong, Louis, Tributes, Memorial, Statue, Park

content: Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971

content: Blake, Eubie (James Herbert), 1883-1983

content: Darensbourg, Joe, 1906-1985

content: Davison, Bill

content: Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974

content: Garland, Ed

content: Levin, Floyd, 1922-2007

content: Levin, Lucille

content: Morton, Jelly Roll, 1890-1941

content: Wilson, Buster

content: Floyd Levin Jazz Reference Collection

flag: datechar:creation era:ce normal:1969/1993 type:inclusive

content: 1969 - 1993

content: undated

content: Box 15, Folder 6

content: Archival materials


title: Lavere, Charles

content: Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971

content: Blake, Eubie (James Herbert), 1883-1983

content: Darensbourg, Joe, 1906-1985

content: Davison, Bill

content: Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974

content: Garland, Ed

content: Levin, Floyd, 1922-2007

content: Levin, Lucille

content: Morton, Jelly Roll, 1890-1941

content: Wilson, Buster

content: Floyd Levin Jazz Reference Collection

flag: datechar:creation era:ce normal:1949/1993 type:inclusive

content: 1949 - 1993

content: Box 46, Folder 25

content: Archival materials

unittitle: Lavere, Charles

title: Lavere, Charles


title: Record reviews, binder two, part three of three

content: Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971

content: Blake, Eubie (James Herbert), 1883-1983

content: Darensbourg, Joe, 1906-1985

content: Davison, Bill

content: Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974

content: Garland, Ed

content: Levin, Floyd, 1922-2007

content: Levin, Lucille

content: Morton, Jelly Roll, 1890-1941

content: Wilson, Buster

content: Floyd Levin Jazz Reference Collection

content: Floyd Levin Jazz Reference Collection / Series 4: Writings

flag: datechar:creation era:ce normal:1985/1997 type:inclusive

content: Box 9, Folder 1

content: Archival materials

unittitle: Writings


title: H-4846, Gene Sedric

content: Schiedt, Duncan P., 1921-2014

indexedContent: Schiedt, Duncan P.

content: Duncan P. Schiedt Photograph Collection

indexedContent: Duncan P. Schiedt Photograph Collection

content: Duncan P. Schiedt Photograph Collection / Series 2: Photographic Materials / 2.1: Historical Photographs and Negatives

content: circa early to mid 1940s

content: Box 72

content: Archival materials

content: Duncan Schiedt Jazz Collection, 1900-2012, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: Duncan P. Schiedt Photograph Collection

unittitle: Photographic Materials

unittitle: Historical Photographs and Negatives

unittitle: H-4846, Gene Sedric

title: H-4846, Gene Sedric


title: H-4955B, Bobby Hackett, Colorado

content: Schiedt, Duncan P., 1921-2014

content: Duncan P. Schiedt Photograph Collection

indexedContent: Duncan P. Schiedt Photograph Collection / Series 2: Photographic Materials / 2.1: Historical Photographs and Negatives

content: Box 72

content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History

content: Archival materials

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: H-4955B, Bobby Hackett, Colorado

title: H-4955B, Bobby Hackett, Colorado


title: H-4166B, Billie Holiday

content: Schiedt, Duncan P., 1921-2014

content: Duncan P. Schiedt Photograph Collection

content: undated

content: Box 69

content: Archival materials

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: H-4166B, Billie Holiday

title: H-4166B, Billie Holiday


title: H-4489, Andre Previn

content: Schiedt, Duncan P., 1921-2014

content: Duncan P. Schiedt Photograph Collection

content: Box 70

content: Archival materials

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: H-4489, Andre Previn

title: H-4489, Andre Previn


title: H-3964, Joe Yukl and Jimmy Stewart, publicity still, Glenn Miller Story, Universal Pictures

content: Schiedt, Duncan P., 1921-2014

content: Duncan P. Schiedt Photograph Collection

content: Box 68

content: Archival materials

content: Collection is open for research.


title: H-3937, Marvin Ash, Los Angeles

content: Schiedt, Duncan P., 1921-2014

content: Duncan P. Schiedt Photograph Collection

content: circa 1960s

content: Box 68

content: Archival materials

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: H-3937, Marvin Ash, Los Angeles

title: H-3937, Marvin Ash, Los Angeles


title: H-4647C, John Coltrane

content: Schiedt, Duncan P., 1921-2014

content: Duncan P. Schiedt Photograph Collection

content: undated

content: Box 71

content: Archival materials

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: H-4647C, John Coltrane

title: H-4647C, John Coltrane


title: McRae, Carmen

label: Collection Performer

content: Adderley, Cannonball

indexedContent: Adderley, Cannonball

content: Adderly, Nat, 1931-2000

indexedContent: Adderly, Nat

content: Horn, Shirley, 1934-

indexedContent: Horn, Shirley, 1934-

content: Levy, Devra Hall

indexedContent: Levy, Devra Hall

content: Levy, John, 1912-2012

indexedContent: Levy, John

label: Collection Vocalist

content: Lincoln, Abbey, 1930 -

indexedContent: Lincoln, Abbey, 1930 -

content: Mbulu, Letta

indexedContent: Mbulu, Letta

content: Montgomery, Wes, 1925-1968

indexedContent: Montgomery, Wes

label: Collection Singer

content: Wilson, Nancy, 1937-

indexedContent: Wilson, Nancy, 1937-

content: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection

indexedContent: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection

content: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection / Series 4: Artist Files / 4.1: Artists, 1946-2001 undated

label: Extent

content: 1 Videocassettes (VHS)

content: undated

content: Box 51, Item OV1221.16

content: Archival materials

content: Moving Images

indexedContent: Moving Images

content: Videocassettes (vhs)

indexedContent: Videocassettes (vhs)

content: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

content: Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection

unittitle: Artist Files

unittitle: Artists, 1946-2001 undated

unittitle: McRae, Carmen

title: McRae, Carmen


title: "Nancy-Naturally," album cover

content: Adderley, Cannonball

content: Adderly, Nat, 1931-2000

content: Horn, Shirley, 1934-

content: Levy, Devra Hall

label: Collection Creator

content: Levy, John, 1912-2012

content: Lincoln, Abbey, 1930 -

content: Mbulu, Letta

content: Montgomery, Wes, 1925-1968

content: Wilson, Nancy, 1937-

content: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection

content: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection / Series 6: Nancy Wilson / 6.6: Audio Visual Materials

content: Box 91

indexedContent: Archives Center, National Museum of American History

content: Archival materials

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: Nancy Wilson

unittitle: Audio Visual Materials

unittitle: "Nancy-Naturally," album cover

title: "Nancy-Naturally," album cover


title: "I Know I Love Him"

content: Adderley, Cannonball

content: Adderly, Nat, 1931-2000

content: Horn, Shirley, 1934-

content: Levy, Devra Hall

content: Levy, John, 1912-2012

content: Lincoln, Abbey, 1930 -

content: Mbulu, Letta

content: Montgomery, Wes, 1925-1968

content: Wilson, Nancy, 1937-

label: See more items in

content: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection

indexedContent: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection / Series 6: Nancy Wilson / 6.6: Audio Visual Materials

content: 1 Sound discs (vinyl)

content: 12 inch; 78 rpm

content: Box 93

content: Archival materials

indexedContent: Archival materials

content: Audio

indexedContent: Audio

content: Sound discs (vinyl)

indexedContent: Sound discs (vinyl)

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: "I Know I Love Him"

title: "I Know I Love Him"


title: Fambro, Tony, photographs

content: Adderley, Cannonball

indexedContent: Adderley, Cannonball

content: Adderly, Nat, 1931-2000

content: Horn, Shirley, 1934-

content: Levy, Devra Hall

content: Levy, John, 1912-2012

content: Lincoln, Abbey, 1930 -

content: Mbulu, Letta

content: Montgomery, Wes, 1925-1968

content: Wilson, Nancy, 1937-

content: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection

indexedContent: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection / Series 4: Artist Files / 4.1: Artists, 1946-2001 undated

content: undated

label: Container

content: Box 8, Folder 53

content: Archival materials

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: Fambro, Tony, photographs

title: Fambro, Tony, photographs


title: Performances

content: Adderley, Cannonball

content: Adderly, Nat, 1931-2000

indexedContent: Adderly, Nat

content: Horn, Shirley, 1934-

indexedContent: Horn, Shirley, 1934-

content: Levy, Devra Hall

content: Levy, John, 1912-2012

content: Lincoln, Abbey, 1930 -

content: Mbulu, Letta

content: Montgomery, Wes, 1925-1968

content: Wilson, Nancy, 1937-

content: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection

content: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection / Series 6: Nancy Wilson / 6.3: Performance Materials

content: Box 21, Folder 11

label: Archival Repository

content: Archival materials

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: Performance Materials

unittitle: Performances

title: Performances


title: Interview with John Levy from July 1990, transcript

content: Adderley, Cannonball

content: Adderly, Nat, 1931-2000

content: Horn, Shirley, 1934-

content: Levy, Devra Hall

indexedContent: Levy, Devra Hall

content: Levy, John, 1912-2012

indexedContent: Levy, John

content: Lincoln, Abbey, 1930 -

content: Mbulu, Letta

content: Montgomery, Wes, 1925-1968

content: Wilson, Nancy, 1937-

content: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection

content: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection / Series 1: Personal Papers / 1.2: Men, Women, and Girl Singers: My Life As a Musician Turned Talent Manager

content: Box 2, Folder 21

label: Type

content: Archival materials

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: Personal Papers


title: Negatives

content: Adderley, Cannonball

content: Adderly, Nat, 1931-2000

content: Horn, Shirley, 1934-

content: Levy, Devra Hall

content: Levy, John, 1912-2012

content: Lincoln, Abbey, 1930 -

indexedContent: Lincoln, Abbey, 1930 -

content: Mbulu, Letta

indexedContent: Mbulu, Letta

content: Montgomery, Wes, 1925-1968

content: Wilson, Nancy, 1937-

content: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection

content: John and Devra Hall Levy Collection / Series 6: Nancy Wilson / 6.5: Photographic Materials

content: Box 24, Folder 6

content: Archival materials

label: Collection Citation

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: Photographic Materials

unittitle: Negatives

title: Negatives


title: I'm So Glad Trouble Don't Last Always: The African American Spiritual and the Struggle for a New Classical Concert Tradition

content: Smithsonian Institution

indexedContent: Smithsonian Institution

content: National Public Radio

indexedContent: National Public Radio

content: Reagon, Bernice Johnson, 1942-2024

indexedContent: Reagon, Bernice Johnson

content: Wade in the Water Radio Series Collection / 2.1: Master Digital Audio Tapes of Edited Programs, 1993

content: 1 Sound cassettes (DAT)

content: Box 1 (DAT Edited), Cassette AC0516-MT0009

content: Archival materials

content: Audio

content: Sound cassettes (dat)

indexedContent: Sound cassettes (dat)

content: Wade in the Water Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

label: Collection Rights

content: Reproduction fees for commercial use. Copyright restrictions. Contact repository for information.

content: Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Unrestricted research use of reference audio cassettes only. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.


title: Photographs related to television

content: WKAQ (Television station : San Juan, Puerto Rico)

content: WNJU (Television station : New York, NY)

content: Telemundo Group, Inc.

indexedContent: Telemundo Group, Inc.

content: Univisión (Television network)

indexedContent: Univisión (Television network)

content: Mirós, Gilda

indexedContent: Mirós, Gilda

content: Aguilar, Héctor

indexedContent: Aguilar, Héctor

content: Gazcón, Edgardo

indexedContent: Gazcón, Edgardo

content: Spanish Language Broadcasting Collection / Series 1: Gilda Mirós / 1.1: Personal Papers

content: This collection received Federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center.

flag: datechar:creation era:ce normal:1957/1993 type:inclusive

content: Box 1, Folder 2

content: Archival materials

content: Spanish Language Broadcasting Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

label: Collection Restrictions

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: Gilda Mirós

unittitle: Photographs related to television

title: Photographs related to television


title: War Department envelope (WDE)

content: Bodansky, Lony Gottlieb

indexedContent: Bodansky, Lony Gottlieb

content: Gottlieb, Camilla Klaber, 1884-1964

indexedContent: Gottlieb, Camilla Klaber

content: Bodansky, Harry

indexedContent: Bodansky, Harry

content: Gottlieb and Bodansky Family Papers

indexedContent: Gottlieb and Bodansky Family Papers

content: Gottlieb and Bodansky Family Papers / Series 1: Camilla Klauber Gottlieb Papers / 1.1: Purse contents

content: undated

content: Box 1, Folder 29

content: Archival materials

indexedContent: Archival materials

content: The Gottlieb and Bodansky Family Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

content: Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Reproduction permission from Archives Center: reproduction fees may apply. All duplication requests must be reviewed and approved by Archives Center staff.

content: This collection is open for research use. Researchers must handle unprotected photographs with cotton gloves.

unittitle: Gottlieb and Bodansky Family Papers

unittitle: Camilla Klauber Gottlieb Papers

unittitle: Purse contents

unittitle: War Department envelope (WDE)

title: War Department envelope (WDE)


level: collection

label: Creator

content: Cron, Rosalind

indexedContent: Cron, Rosalind

content: International Sweethearts of Rhythm

indexedContent: International Sweethearts of Rhythm

content: Piney Woods School

indexedContent: Piney Woods School

content: Moon, Dixie Hardy

indexedContent: Moon, Dixie Hardy

content: Hughes, Cathy

indexedContent: Hughes, Cathy

label: Names

content: United Service Organizations (U.S.)

indexedContent: United Service Organizations (U.S.)

content: Woods, Helen Jones, 1923-2020

indexedContent: Woods, Helen Jones

label: Topic

content: Bands (Music) -- 1940-1950

indexedContent: Bands (Music)

content: Big band music

indexedContent: Big band music

content: Female (Musical group)

indexedContent: Female (Musical group)

content: Jazz -- 20th century -- United States

indexedContent: Jazz

content: Musicians

indexedContent: Musicians

content: Women musicians -- 1930-1950

indexedContent: Women musicians

content: World War, 1939-1945 -- Art and the war

label: Provenance

content: Collection donated to the Archives Center in 2011 by Rosalind Cron.

content: Cron, Rosalind

content: International Sweethearts of Rhythm

content: Piney Woods School

content: Moon, Dixie Hardy

content: Hughes, Cathy

label: Summary

content: The International Sweethearts of Rhythm Collection focuses on the all-female, racially and ethnically diverse big band group that started in 1937 and disbanded in 1949.  The collection contains news clippings, photographs, correspondence, ephemera from USO travels, and newsletters.  Also included are books related to the group, as well as a tribute CD and a 33 rpm vinyl sound recording.

label: Accruals

content: Additional materials donated by Dixie Hardy Moon in 2012 and Cathy Hughes in 2010.

label: Biographical / Historical

content:
The International Sweethearts of Rhythm were a racially and ethnically mixed swing band, all of whose members were women. They were organized in 1937 by Laurence Clifton Jones, who started the Piney Woods School near Jackson, Mississippi. He formed the band from students at Piney Woods and the band toured to raise money for the school, performing at fairs, dance halls, churches, and theaters.  In 1939, the band began to tour outside of Mississippi and traveled across the American South and Midwest.  In 1941 they separated from Piney Woods, started out on their own as professional musicians and relocated to Arlington, Virginia.  While in Arlington, the band recruited professional musicians to replace the underage students who stayed in school.  The band's venues included the Apollo Theatre and Savoy Ballroom in New York and the Howard Theatre in Washington DC They performed frequently at military bases and were quite popular during World War II. In response to requests from GIs serving overseas, the Sweethearts undertook a six month tour of Europe starting in July 1945.  The tour was supported by the United Service Organization (USO) Camp Shows.  The band played in Paris, France and throughout Germany, including the cities of Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Munich, and Mannheim. The group disbanded in 1949, but reunited for a reunion in 1980 at the Third Annual Women's Jazz Festival in Kansas City.

Rosalin Cron was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1925 and began playing music at nine years old. She joined the band in 1943 and primarly played the alto saxophone, but was also trained to play the clarinet and flute.  Cron was a part of the overseas tour.  She was with the band until 1946.  Dixie Hardy Moon is the niece of founder Laurence Clifton Jones.  Catherine (Cathy) Hughes, was born in 1947 in Omaha, Nebraska.  She is the granddaughter of founder Laurence Clifton Jones and her mother, Helen Jones Woods (1923-2020), played the trombone with the Sweethearts.  Hughes is considered a media pioneer and founder of Radio One/TV One.

content: 1 Cubic foot (4 boxes)

flag: datechar:creation era:ce normal:1933/2010 type:inclusive

flag: datechar:creation era:ce normal:1939/1946 type:bulk

content: bulk 1939-1946

label: Identifier

content: Collection descriptions

indexedContent: Collection descriptions

content: Archival materials

content: Books

indexedContent: Books

content: Newspaper clippings

indexedContent: Newspaper clippings

content: Photographs

indexedContent: Photographs

content: Publicity photographs

indexedContent: Publicity photographs

label: Citation

content: International Sweethearts of Rhythm Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

label: Arrangement

content:
The collection is divided into three series.

Series 1: Piney Woods School, 1937-1944

Series 2: Rosalind Cron Materials, 1933-2005

Series 3: Dixie Hardy Moon Materials, 1935-1951

label: Processing Information

content: Processed by Sara Wheeler, July 2017; supervised by Alison Oswald, archivist.

label: Rights

content: Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

label: Genre/Form

content: Books -- 20th century

content: Newspaper clippings

content: Photographs -- 20th century

content: Publicity photographs

label: Scope and Contents

content: The collection consists mostly of photographs and news clippings documenting the International Sweethearts Band of Rhythm's performances, rehearsals, and travels.   It also includes tribute materials to the band, including books and audio CDs.

label: Restrictions

content: Collection is open for research.

unitid: Collection NMAH.AC.1218


title: Gay Propaganda

label: Collection Creator

content: Biren, Joan E.

indexedContent: Biren, Joan E.

label: See more items in

content: Joan E. Biren Queer Film Museum Collection / Series 1: Posters, Ephemera, and Oral History / 1.2: Ephemera

flag: datechar:creation type:inclusive

label: Date

label: Container

content: Box 1, Folder 44

label: Archival Repository

label: Type

content: Archival materials

indexedContent: Archival materials

label: Collection Citation

content: Joan E. Biren Queer Film Museum Collection, 1931-2019, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

label: Collection Rights

content: Collection open for research on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.

unittitle: Posters, Ephemera, and Oral History

unittitle: Ephemera

unittitle: Gay Propaganda

title: Gay Propaganda


title: W2XWV tower, New York, New York

content: Du Mont, Allen B. (Allen Balcom), 1901-1965

indexedContent: Du Mont, Allen B. (Allen Balcom)

content: Allen Balcom Du Mont Collection

indexedContent: Allen Balcom Du Mont Collection

content: Allen Balcom Du Mont Collection / Series 13: Photographs

content: undated

content: Box 7 (Series 13), Folder 14

content: Archival materials

content: Allen Balcom Du Mont Collection, 1929-1965, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

label: Collection Restrictions

content: Collection is open for research. Gloves must be worn when handling unprotected photographs and negatives.  Special arrangements required to view materials in cold storage.  Using cold room materials requires a three hour waiting period. Only reference copies of audiovisual materials may be used. Contact the Archives Center for more information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

unittitle: Allen Balcom Du Mont Collection

unittitle: Photographs

unittitle: W2XWV tower, New York, New York

title: W2XWV tower, New York, New York


title: Bouckaert, Peter and Callahan, Brian

content: Brewers Association

indexedContent: Brewers Association

label: Collection Interviewer

content: Harry, John

indexedContent: Harry, John

content: Johnson, Paula, Curator

indexedContent: Johnson, Paula, Curator

content: McCulla, Theresa

indexedContent: McCulla, Theresa

content: National Museum of American History (U.S.)

content: American Beer Brewing Oral History Collection / Series 1: Born-Digital Interviews

label: Sponsor

content: These oral histories were conducted for the American Brewing History Initiative at the National Museum of American History. The Initiative was funded with support from the Brewers Association, a not-for-profit organization of small and independent American brewers.

label: Extent

content: 718.05 Megabytes (Total Running Time: 01:05:21, audio/wav)

content: Item NMAH-AC1595-BDA0013

content: Archival materials

content: Audio

indexedContent: Audio

content: Megabytes

indexedContent: Megabytes

content: American Beer Brewing Oral History Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

content: Oral history interview with Peter Bouckaert, brewmaster, and Brian Callahan, director of fun, at New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado. Topics covered include Callahan and Bouckaert's childhoods; the role of beer in Belgian food and drink culture; Bouckaert's early interest in science and training in brewing; Callahan's early interest in homebrewing and decision to join New Belgium in its earliest years; and the nature of microbrewing in Colorado in the late 1980s. Bouckaert talks about his early brewing career at Rodenbach Brewery and the decision to move to the U.S. to join New Belgium. Bouckaert and Callahan also talk about American consumers' initial reactions to Belgian styles of beer; New Belgium's expansion over the years; the process of recipe formulation; branding; the brewery's work culture; Colorado's role in craft brewing; challenges to craft breweries during an age of competition; and the position of American beer in global beer culture.

content: Collection is open for research. Access and use of born-digital audio materials available in the Archives Center reading room or by requesting copies of materials at RightsReproductions@si.edu.

unittitle: Born-Digital Interviews

unittitle: Bouckaert, Peter and Callahan, Brian

title: Bouckaert, Peter and Callahan, Brian


title: Automatic Alarm Receivers

content: Allen Balcom Du Mont Collection

content: Allen Balcom Du Mont Collection / Series 15: Non-Du Mont Publications / 15.6: Electronics

content: Box 3 (Series 15), Folder 4

content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History

content: Archival materials

unittitle: Non-Du Mont Publications

unittitle: Electronics

unittitle: Automatic Alarm Receivers

title: Automatic Alarm Receivers


title: Antenna installations

content: Allen Balcom Du Mont Collection

indexedContent: Allen Balcom Du Mont Collection / Series 13: Photographs

content: undated

content: Box 8 (Series 13), Folder 2

indexedContent: Archives Center, National Museum of American History

content: Archival materials

content: Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

unittitle: Antenna installations

title: Antenna installations


title: February 1956

content: Allen Balcom Du Mont Collection

content: Allen Balcom Du Mont Collection / Series 14: Clippings/Scrapbooks

content: Box 25 (Series 14)

content: Archival materials

unittitle: Clippings/Scrapbooks

unittitle: February 1956

title: February 1956


title: Stokes, Sterling, Jr.

content: Brewers Association

content: Harry, John

content: Johnson, Paula, Curator

content: McCulla, Theresa

indexedContent: National Museum of American History (U.S.)

indexedContent: American Beer Brewing Oral History Collection / Series 1: Born-Digital Interviews

content: 512.18 Megabytes (Total Running Time: 00:50:45, audio/wav)

content: Item NMAH-AC1595-BDA0065

content: Archival materials

content: Audio

content: Megabytes

content: Oral history interview with Sterling Stokes, Jr., beer writer and "RVA Biermeister" in Richmond, Virginia. Topics covered include Stokes's childhood in Richmond and Charlotte, North Carolina; his study of chemistry and career as a chemist; the start of his homebrewing hobby; and his writing about the Richmond craft beer scene, first for the website GayRVA and later for his own blog, RVABiermeister.com. Stokes also talks about the interconnectedness of the homebrewing and craft beer communities in Richmond; the growth of Richmond's beer culture and the importance of the change in legislation (SB604) that allowed breweries to sell full pints in their taprooms; the current popularity of styles such juicy, hazy IPAs; the importance of events like the Heart and Soul Festival for promoting diversity and inclusion within the beer industry; and the anticipated future of craft beer in Richmond and nationally.

unittitle: Stokes, Sterling, Jr.

title: Stokes, Sterling, Jr.


title: Press clippings, 1962-1964

content: Northern States Power Company

indexedContent: Northern States Power Company

content: Hooks, Benjamin, Dr.

indexedContent: Hooks, Benjamin, Dr.

content: Xcel Energy

indexedContent: Xcel Energy

content: Reddy Communications, Inc.

indexedContent: Reddy Communications, Inc.

content: Reddy Kilowatt, Inc.

indexedContent: Reddy Kilowatt, Inc.

content: Gofman, John W.

indexedContent: Gofman, John W.

content: Commoner, Barry, 1917-

indexedContent: Commoner, Barry, 1917-

content: Collins, Ashton B.

indexedContent: Collins, Ashton B.

content: Reddy Kilowatt Records

indexedContent: Reddy Kilowatt Records

content: Reddy Kilowatt Records / Series 1: Background Materials / 1.2: Histories and Origins of Reddy

content: Box 2, Folder 1

content: Archival materials

content: Reddy Kilowatt Records, 1926-1999, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

content: Collection items are available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions.

content:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Researchers must use reference copies of audio-visual materials. Reference copies are ½ inch VHS, audio cassette, or compact disc. When no reference copy exists, the Archives Center staff will produce reference copies on an "as needed" basis, as resources allow. There are no reference copies on VHS or DVD for the filmstrips, and the Archives Center does not have a filmstrip projector.

Technical Access: Titles on Beta Max video tape and all picture and audio elements for Original Film (OF) 913.7 cannot be viewed. Viewing the film and filmstrip portion of collection requires special appointment.

unittitle: Reddy Kilowatt Records

unittitle: Background Materials

unittitle: Histories and Origins of Reddy

unittitle: Press clippings, 1962-1964

title: Press clippings, 1962-1964


title: Safko International, Inc. Records

label: Creator

content: Safko, Lon S.

indexedContent: Safko, Lon S.

label: Topic

content: Home automation

indexedContent: Home automation

content: Social medicine -- Sweden

indexedContent: Social medicine

content: Assistive computer technology

indexedContent: Assistive computer technology

content: User interfaces (Computer systems)

indexedContent: User interfaces (Computer systems)

content: Computers -- 1950-2000

indexedContent: Computers

content: Computerized self-help devices for people with disabilities

content: Rehabilitation technology

indexedContent: Rehabilitation technology

content: People with disabilities

indexedContent: People with disabilities

label: Provenance

content: This collection was donated by Lon S. Safko, 2006.

content: Safko, Lon S.

content: Safko International, Inc. Records

indexedContent: Safko International, Inc. Records

label: Summary

content: The records of Safko International, Inc., document an assistive computer technology company created by Lon S. Safko to produce and sell the environmental control systems he invented for the physically disabled, specifically quadriplegics. Through the use of a computer and alternative input devices, the physically disabled were able to overcome physical barriers which inhibited them from attaining an autonomous lifestyle.

label: Biographical / Historical

content:
Founded by Lon S. Safko in 1987, Safko International, Inc. was formed in response to the encouragement Safko received from demonstrating SoftVoice, his environmental control system. At first, Safko was merely fulfilling a promise to help a quadriplegic, Herb Smith, regain control of his environment. As Safko encountered the many difficulties of adapting existing voice recognition software to communicate with hardware devices, such as lamps, he understood that the only way to fulfill his promise was to invent his own system. Shortly after his first demonstration, on March 3, 1986, he was so inspired at the success of his invention that he decided to continue his work. In October of that year, Safko was contacted to install a system for Leon Mutch, a man who had lost his will to live after being paralyzed from an automobile accident. After installing the system, Safko heard nothing for a few weeks. Then after being telephoned to retrieve the system, he was surprised to find that Mutch had in fact regained some arm mobility, and more importantly, Mutch had regained the hope that he had lost. Less than six months later, on March 6, 1987, Safko International, Inc. was formally incorporated in Kennewick, Washington, to develop, produce, market, sell, and distribute Safko's inventions, primarily SoftVoice and its successor, the SenSei System.

Although Safko International, Inc. was officially incorporated in 1987, the company did not fully develop until its relocation to Chandler, Arizona, in 1989. During 1987 and 1988, Lon Safko continued to work in the computer retail business and as Senior Systems Engineer for the United States Department of Energy, under Westinghouse Electric Company, to produce an Artificial Intelligence computer system. From August to November, 1987, Lon Safko was repeatedly contacted by Debra Purcel, a physical therapist who wanted to purchase the system for one of her patients, a sixteen year old girl with a spinal tumor whose last request was to communicate her thoughts and feelings to others who were suffering from similar circumstances. Safko was reluctant to sell her the system because the girl was using a respirator and therefore would be unable to speak clearly enough for a computer to recognize her voice. Eventually, Safko realized the solution was to modify his system through the use of alternative input devices. He created HeadMouse, an input device modified from an existing model. He named the modified system SoftVoice II. In August, 1987, Safko's environmental control system was renamed the SenSei System. After modifying the system to provide for the needs of the young girl and its successful demonstration, Safko decided to give the system free of charge to her. Unfortunately when he returned to surprise her, he was too late. Her life support systems had been unplugged two days before.

Shortly thereafter, in March of 1988, Safko returned to Safko International, Inc. with a greater determination to reach those individuals trapped by circumstances beyond their control. Also in 1988, Safko International, Inc. was given office space in which to continue research and development of Safko's assistive computer technology systems through the assistance of Westinghouse Electric Company. As of 1988 Safko was President and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Stan Colson was Vice President and on the Product Development team, Bruce Jorgenson was the Secretary and Treasurer in charge of the Finance and Administration division, Bob Hennig was on the Product Development team, and Keith Fischer served as Director of Engineering. The Marketing and Sales division was composed of Roger McDowell and Melanie Strege.

During 1988, Safko International, Inc. began clinical testing at hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. In addition, the company signed a contract with Boyd Fricke of the Austin McDaniel Corporation granting an exclusive international sales and marketing rights to Safko International, Inc.'s products in exchange for financial assistance. Later, Austin McDaniel Corporation attempted to coerce Safko International, Inc. through financial pressure to give up product rights. In 1990 Safko regained sales and marketing rights of the SenSei System. In May of 1988 there was also an attempt to merge with Datex Inc, but the merger did not succeed.

On June 15, 1989, the company officially moved the corporate headquarters, along with the engineering and manufacturing division, to Chandler, Arizona. Also in 1989 the company signed Value Added Reseller agreements with computer companies such as Apple Computer, Inc. and Computerland/ DataPhaz of Phoenix, Arizona.

In the following year, Safko International, Inc. expanded from domestic to international markets. The company built relationships with TeleNova AB, a subsidiary of the Swedish Telecom Group of the Swedish government and InfoLogics, an artificial intelligence computer division. Through the marketing and distribution efforts of TeleNova and its president Tommy Naslund, Safko International, Inc. was able to install SenSei systems in Sweden. In 1990 Lon Safko traveled to Sweden to help InfoLogics translate the SenSei computer system software into Swedish.

In 1991 Safko International, Inc. acquired contracts to construct interfaces which correspond with hospital beds. In particular, the Borg Warner Electronic Hospital Bed interface was created on the behalf of the Veterans Administration Hospital and the Smith and Davis Electronic Hospital Bed interface on the behalf of the Rusk Institute. Additionally, the Environmental PAL was developed in 1991. In regards to corporate structuring Richard L. Bourke became Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and John B. Zinn was Vice President of Marketing.

On February 24, 1992, Safko International, Inc. became an official Arizona corporation. Also during this year, the portable Safko Server and Power Now System were created.

In May 1993, Allen J. Emsley became Secretary and Treasurer of the company and then became Chief Financial Officer from November 1993 until August 1994. In November of 1993 the research and development office was moved from Chandler to Tempe, Arizona.

In January 1994 Safko International, Inc. was acquired by Safko Industries Inc., of Wyoming and Safko Sales International was formed. By 1994 Safko International, Inc. had sales representatives covering Arizona, Florida, Tennessee, Washington, Illinois, California, and New York. Reflected in the company's active marketing campaign and its significant increase of personnel, from 1994 to1995 Safko International, Inc. was at its peak in terms of corporate growth.

In 1995 Safko International, Inc. received Veterans Administration and Medicare approval. In the research and development division the company enhanced the SenSei System to be functional for the visually disabled and blind. As of 1995 Sakfo, Bowman, Emsley, Fischer, Honacker, and Hirota remained at the company. New employees included: Teresa Caldwell, Michael Montgomery (Marketing Assistant), Kahn Beal (contract employee), Jill Lund (Secretary), Carl E. McKowan (Vice President Financial), Marjory Bain (Administrative Assistant). Due to financial difficulties, in October of 1995 the entire staff was laid off and only Safko, Bowman, and Fischer continued to work for the company. Conditions only got worse and in November of 1995 Safko, Bowman, and Fischer were forced to leave their office space and work out of their cars and homes.

On May 28, 1996 Lon S. Safko officially resigned from the company and shortly thereafter the company shut down. Immediately following Safko International, Inc.'s closure, Synosure, Inc. was formed and given all rights, copyrights, and trademarks to the Safko International, Inc. products. One of the significant aspects about the company during this time was its attempt to finalize distribution plans with Great Britain, but the momentum was lost. Synosure, Inc. only lasted a year. On June 23, 1997 it dissolved.

Lawrence "Lon" S. Safko was born on August 1, 1955, in Yonkers, New York. He completed his General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.) in 1976 and graduated from Westchester College in 1978 with a three year advanced degree in Civil Engineering. Safko also took courses at Mercy College, Pace University and Hofstra University.

In the spring of 1982, Safko began his entrepreneurial career by forming Civil Consultants, a firm to provide the first ever engineering services using computers. The company specialized in surveying, coordinate geometry, earthworks, highway and transportation design, traffic analysis, and hydrologic computations. In 1985, Safko sold Civil Consultants and relocated to the Pacific Northwest. Wanting to work more closely with computers, he became the general sales manager for two Apple Computer, Inc. retail outlets.

That same year, Safko designed a voice activated environmental control system for the disabled called SoftVoice Computer System. On March 6, 1986, Safko founded Safko International, Inc. and began field testing the SoftVoice Computer System. During 1987, Safko designed an artificial intelligence computer system for the United States Department of Energy and the Westinghouse Electric Company, on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, in Washington State. This system compiled thousands of reports developed by the five uranium and plutonium production companies on the nuclear reservation, analyzed this information, and reported to the operator any signs of potentially hazardous patterns that could result in a nuclear disaster. In 1988, Safko began research and development of a Macintosh-based SenSei Computer System for the Disabled.

Safko holds United States Patent # 7,072,949 for a, "System and method for providing paper models over a wide area computer network," and several copyrights and trademarks. Currently, Safko is a professional speaker, trainer, and consultant for Better Homes Seminar and Innovative Thinking, L.L.C. He also is President and founder of Paper Models, Inc., providing corporate specialty advertising and educational paper models.

content: 12.6 Cubic feet (34 boxes)

label: Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

content: Gloves must be worn when handling unprotected photographs and negatives. Use of audio cassettes and 1⁄2" videotapes may require production of reference copies.

flag: datechar:creation era:ce normal:1984/1996 type:inclusive

content: 1984 - 1996

label: Identifier

content: Collection descriptions

indexedContent: Collection descriptions

content: Archival materials

indexedContent: Archival materials

content: Design drawings

indexedContent: Design drawings

content: Magnetic disks

indexedContent: Magnetic disks

content: Audiovisual materials

indexedContent: Audiovisual materials

content: Financial records

indexedContent: Financial records

content: Legal documents

indexedContent: Legal documents

content: Correspondence

indexedContent: Correspondence

content: Marketing records

indexedContent: Marketing records

content: Photographs

indexedContent: Photographs

content: Business records

indexedContent: Business records

content: Floppy disks

indexedContent: Floppy disks

label: Citation

content: Safko International, Inc. Records, 1984-1998, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

label: Arrangement

content:
This collection is divided into seven series.

Series 1: Executive Records, 1986-1998

Subseries 1.1: Corporate history and formation, 1986-1997

Subseries 1.2: Administration, 1988-1996

Subseries 1.3: Correspondence, 1988-1995

Subseries 1.4: Business plans, 1989-1996

Subseries 1.5: Minutes, 1987-1997

Subseries 1.6: Board of Directors, 1988-1992

Subseries 1.7: Personnel, 1988-1998

Subseries 1.8: Business relationships, 1986-1998

Sub-subseries 1.8.1: Apple Corporation, 1986-1996

Sub-subseries 1.8.2: Consultants, 1989-1994

Sub-subseries 1.8.3: Professional contacts, 1987-1995

Sub-subseries 1.8.4: National, 1987-1996

Sub-subseries 1.8.5: International, 1988-1998

Series 2: Financial Records, 1986-1998

Subseries 2.1: Bookkeeping, 1986-1996

Subseries 2.2: Bookkeeping, 1988-1996

Subseries 2.3: Investors, 1987-1998

Subseries 2.4: Investors, 1987-1998

Series 3: Legal Records, 1986-1997

Subseries 3.1: Poor man's patents, 1986-1994

Subseries 3.2: Legal documents, 1987-1994

Subseries 3.3: Legal representation and counsel, 1988-1995

Subseries 3.4: Disputes, 1987-1997

Subseries 3.5: Research file, 1986-1995

Series 4: Research, Development and Production Records, 1984-1996

Subseries 4.1: SoftVoice, circa 1986

Subseries 4.2: SenSei, 1987-1995

Subseries 4.3: Other inventions, 1988-circa 1992

Subseries 4.4: Proprietary relationships, 1986-1996

Subseries 4.5: Research concerning product development, 1984-1995

Series 5: Marketing, Publicity, and Sales Records, 1986-1996

Subseries 5.1: Product and company information, 1986-1995

Subseries 5.2: Sales records, 1987-1995

Subseries 5.3: Marketing agencies and agents, 1989-1995

Subseries 5.4: Promotional materials, 1987-1995

Subseries 5.5: Advertisements and publicity, 1986-1995

Subseries 5.6: Awards, 1987-1996

Subseries 5.7: Sales representatives' materials, 1990-1995

Subseries 5.8: Sales representatives, 1988-1996

Subseries 59: Conferences and demonstrations, 1987-1995

Subseries 5.10: Distribution, 1986-1996

Subseries 5.11: Prospective clients and business contacts, 1987-1996

Subseries 5.12: Clients, 1986-1996

Series 6: Photographs and Scrapbooks, 1987-1995

Subseries 6.1: Photographs and negatives, 1987-1995

Sub-subseries 6.1.1: Administration, circa 1988-1995

Sub-subseries 6.1.2: Promotional, 1987-1995

Sub-subseries 6.1.3: Demonstrations and trade shows, 1988-1995

Sub-subseries 6.1.4: SoftVoice and SenSei System, 1988-1995

Subseries 6.2: Scrapbooks, 1986-1994

Series 7: Audiovisual Materials, 1986-1996

Subseries 7.1: Audio cassettes, 1991-1994

Subseries 7.2: Audio visual tapes, 1986-1996

label: Processing Information

content: Processed by Jessica Owens, Summer, 2006; supervised by Alison Oswald, archivist.

content: Copyright held by the Smithsonian Institution. Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Reproduction permission from Archives Center: fees for commercial use.

content: Design drawings -- 1950-2000

content: Magnetic disks

content: Audiovisual materials

content: Financial records -- 20th century

content: Legal documents

content: Correspondence -- 1950-2000

content: Marketing records

content: Photographs -- 1950-2000

content: Business records -- 1950-2000

content: Floppy disks

content:
Spanning 1984 to 1998, the Safko International, Inc. Records are divided into seven series and consist of approximately 12.6 cubic feet. Collectively these series document the routine affairs of Safko International, Inc., a company created for the production and distribution of the assistive technology inventions of Lon S. Safko from its formation in 1986 to its dissolution in 1995. During the lifespan of this company there was a growing awareness of and sensitivity towards disability issues within American society. Two significant events associated with this change in American society, were the American with Disabilities Act, 1993, and Christopher Reeve's riding accident in 1995, documented within this collection. In addition to documenting the intersection of American society with the assistive technology field, this collection documents how one man's vision of society and that of his company, in conjunction with perseverance and sacrifices, can transform the lives of individuals such as Franklin Halwood and Liz Jimenez. Lastly, this collection documents the evolution of assistive technology devices to provide for the specific needs of the physically and cognitively disabled.

Executive Records, 1986-1998, is approximately 3.6 cubic feet of documents, the majority of which are correspondence and reports. Other documents include: business cards, faxes, form letters, printed emails, brochures, check stubs, invoices, photocopied newspaper and magazine clippings, blank applications, memoranda, license agreements, scrap paper notes, promotional materials, private placement memoranda, annual reports of other corporations, resumes, receipts, deposit slips, meeting notes, directories, press releases, stock listings, maps, non-disclosure covenants, organizational charts, airline ticket stubs, by-laws, stock certificates, and stock warrants. This series is subdivided into eight subseries, each documenting the operational affairs of Safko International, Inc.

Files within the first subseries, Corporate history and formation, provide background information on the incorporation of Safko International, Inc. and its reformation as Synosure, Inc. in 1996. Other files contain documents listing employees and their positions, biographical sketches, facts about the company and products produced, corporate structuring, and Safko International, Inc.'s by-laws. Files found within the second subseries, Administration, contain operational records, the majority of which deal with the company's relationship with its employees. The third subseries, Correspondence, also deals with operational issues, such as recycling and preparing for conferences. Note that correspondence is found throughout the collection, not just in this subseries. Safko filed most correspondence by names and topics, but correspondence found within this subseries was labeled general correspondence and arranged by year. The next subseries, Business plans, are of drafts and final copies of reports that were revised every two years providing information about officers, legal and financial advisors, descriptions of the SenSei system and its market potential, its business and marketing strategies, foreign business relations, cash flow, distribution, sales history, restructuring strategy, its reseller status of other computer products, and pilot projects. The fifth subseries, Minutes, is comprehensive in coverage except for the period between 1990 and 1992. The most information about company decisions and discussions made at these meetings can be found in the minutes spanning 1992 to 1995.

The next two subseries, Board of Directors and Personnel, are not comprehensive in coverage and contain very few documents. Also, files for some of the employees and Board of Directors are not found within these subseries. Employee files include: Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer (Safko), SenSei Program Director (Martindale), Marketing Assistant (Montgomery), Computer programmer (Hirota), Chief Executive Officer and President after Safko resigned (Schembs), Vice President of Sales and Marketing (Zinn), Vice President of Sales and Marketing (Bowman), and Director of Sales (Owen). Within the two files about Safko is correspondence of a personal nature, his biographical sketch, and curriculum vitae. The final subseries, Business relationships, contains files about individuals and companies whose relationship to Safko International, Inc. was unclear or who had a relationship with the company that covered many areas of business. For instance, although Westinghouse Investment Management Company invested in other businesses, it had a "non-financial" interest in Safko International, Inc. Another example is the Apple Corporation, which provided technical support for Apple Computers that Safko International, Inc. resold, but it also marketed Safko's SenSei System in its Aisle 17 publication.

Financial Records 1987-1998, is approximately 1.3 cubic feet of documents, the majority of which are spreadsheets and reports about the company's financial status and correspondence with companies and individuals about investment opportunities. Other documents include: form letters, faxes, financial charts, resumes, memoranda, confidential summary memoranda, executive summaries, photocopied checks, photocopied newspaper clippings, handwritten notes, financial spreadsheets, stock warrants, agendas, private offering memoranda, confidential summary memoranda, drafts and final copies of financial statements, deposit slips, and business cards. This series is subdivided into four subseries, each documenting the fiscal difficulties that Safko International, Inc. encountered and its strategy for overcoming these difficulties.

The first subseries, Bookkeeping, includes records of liabilities, assets, expenses, inventories, payroll, stock transaction history, plans for preventing bankruptcy, and auditing procedures. The other three subseries deal specifically with the pursuit of Safko International, Inc. for financial assistance. The distinction between the third and fourth subseries is significant. The third subseries, Investors, documents individuals and companies that invested in Safko International, Inc. through loans or purchases of stock. The fourth subseries, includes files of individuals and companies from whom Safko requested financial assistance, but either rejected Safko's plea outright or never responded. It may be that some of these files are of companies and individuals that did in fact invest in Safko International, Inc., but there is no documentation within the files themselves to identify these individuals and companies as investors.

Legal Records, 1986-1997, is approximately 1.5 cubic feet of documents, the bulk of which is correspondence. Other documents in this series include: reports, licenses, payment vouchers, receipts, court summons, memoranda, photocopied newspaper clippings and magazine articles, newsletters, business proposals, faxes, promotional flyers for other products, brochures, meeting minutes, agreements, business cards, thirteen 5.25" computer diskettes, fourteen 3.5" computer disks, and phone messages. This series is divided into five subseries, each documenting the attempts of Safko International, Inc. to protect itself and its product.

The first subseries, Poor mans' patents, are packets of certified mail that Lon S. Safko sent to himself from 1986 to 1994 to provide proof of his status as the inventor of SoftVoice and other assistive technology devices. The second subseries, Legal documents, provide background information about the SenSei trademark and copyright application process. It also includes proof for the status of Safko International, Inc. as a legitimate and registered company having been granted the authority to conduct business. The third subseries, Legal representation and counsel, are files of documents created in the course of business between Safko International, Inc. and its various legal representatives pertaining to specific issues including: advice about copyrights and compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, capitalization, liability insurance program, loan and stock agreements, personal service agreements, pledge agreements, a prospective business venture with the Saudi Amoudi Group, articles of incorporation, and dissolutions. Most of the issues discussed within this subseries are administrative or financial.

The fourth subseries, Disputes, deals with legal battles that do not appear to have reached litigation. Documentation can be found about the contractual relationship with the Austin McDaniel Corporation and its subsequent dissolution, a challenge to the intellectual property copyright to "SenSei," Safko International, Inc.'s payment in arrears to other businesses, and the attempt of a board member to seek financial compensation from the company. The final subseries, Research file, is background research into the legal ramifications of the American with Disabilities Act, possible copyright infringements by other companies, copyright status of companies such as Microsoft, Apple and Motorola and their relationship to Safko International, Inc., information on how to deal with software licenses, and incoming and outgoing correspondence with software creators asking for their permission to incorporate their inventions as a part of the SenSei system.

Research Development, and Production Records, 1984-1996, is approximately one cubic foot of documents. It includes: correspondence, promotional materials, catalogs, drawings, photocopied newspaper clippings and magazine articles, manuals, circuit board diagrams, receipts, newsletter, brochures, six 3.5" computer disks, seventeen 5.25" computer floppy diskettes, invoices, faxes, business cards, agreements, photographs, fact sheets, and labels. This series is divided into five subseries, each documenting the revisions and adaptations of SoftVoice and the SenSei System for marketability purposes.

The first subseries, SoftVoice, consists of seventeen 5.25" computer floppy diskettes and some documents. The only documents found within this subseries are in two files, the majority of which are in the SoftVoice telephone file. In contrast, the second subseries, SenSei, consists mostly of documents and only one 3.5" computer disk. Among this subseries are files providing information on other complimentary products that Safko resold as a part of the SenSei System, instructions for installers and users of the system, adaptations of the system to meet particular needs, and information on suppliers, unit costs and suggested retail prices. As a part of the third subseries are five 3.5" computer disks. The strength of this subseries is its documentation of the Siptroller. The fourth subseries, Proprietary relationships, documents the pursuit of and/or actual relationship between Safko International, Inc. and other companies involved in selling, manufacturing, and/or distributing assistive technology devices. Depending on the individual needs of the client, Safko International, Inc. offered and sometimes sold these hardware devices and software programs as a part of the SenSei System. Ways in which the system was or could have been adapted through proprietary relationships include: establishing fire alarm and medical alert systems, programming languages, graphics, European modifications, word prediction software, iconic keyboards, and alternative input devices. The final subseries, Research concerning product development, is like the aforementioned subseries, but there is no documentation to prove that the companies contained within this subseries ever had a proprietary relationship with Safko International, Inc. In fact, within this subseries are files about companies that competed with Safko International, Inc. in the field of voice recognition and imitation. A third aspect of this subseries is that it contains research on technologies, like virtual reality, which were ways in which the SenSei system could be enhanced. This subseries contains documentation of Safko International, Inc.'s involvement in pilot studies to assess how assistive technology devices and systems like SenSei can make a difference in the work field.

Marketing, Publicity, and Sales Records, 1986-1996, is approximately 3.1 cubic feet of documents, including: correspondence, faxes, memoranda, drafts and final copies of agreements, reports, press releases, advertisements, fact sheets, agendas, photocopied newspaper clippings and magazine articles, transcripts, photographs, award applications, diagrams, annual reports, business cards, presentation outlines, notes, delivery slips, invoices, inventory lists, and diagrams. This series is divided into twelve subseries, each documenting an important part Safko International, Inc's. efforts to sell and create public awareness of their products. Also documented is that Safko International, Inc's. marketing to hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and consultants, nursing homes, insurance companies, government agencies, and individuals through mailings, advertisements, telephone calls, and personal relationships.

The first subseries, Product and company information, contains documents that are similar to those in the first subseries of Executive Records. The main difference is that these files are not the master copies. Also, very few files of this subseries actually focus on company history; the majority are documents created to assist individuals, other businesses, and company employees in providing background information about the product, finding funding to purchase a system, and understanding how the SenSei System works. The second subseries, Sales records, provides information on sales transactions. Some of the delivery slips and invoices within this subseries are also located in client files. The third subseries, Marketing agencies and agents, documents the relationship Safko International, Inc. had with public relations agencies. Of all the subseries, this is the one with the majority of information. It reveals the techniques the company and its public relations agents used in trying to initiate contact with other individuals and companies. For instance, there is detailed information about the construction of promotional materials along with timelines and progress reports assessing the work of the marketing agents in meeting the needs of Safko International, Inc. The fourth subseries, Promotional materials, contain documents whose purpose was to sell the Sensei system and other assistive technology inventions created by Lon S. Safko. Unlike the first subseries, Product and company information, the purpose of these documents was to persuade prospective customers. The fifth subseries, Advertisements and publicity, records publicity garnered through magazines, newspapers, video, television, and radio. The sixth subseries, Awards, documents publicity of a different sort. It documents the recognition Lon S. Safko and his inventions received for benefiting society. Within this subseries, one of the files documents the creation of a museum display at the Arizona Science Center. In addition to creating public awareness of the SenSei System, this series documents the training of sales representatives, sales transactions, and distribution.

The seventh subseries, Sales representatives' materials consist of documents used to assist in training the representatives. The eighth subseries, Sales representatives, is of files organized according to the name of the representative. Besides invoices for sales transactions, these files also contain agreements outlining responsibilities, a listing of who to go to for answers to legal questions, information on conventions, and definitions of pertinent medical terms necessary for a sales representative to know. Note that not all files are comprehensive or provide the same kinds of information. The ninth subseries, Conferences and demonstrations, are of presentations given by Safko International, Inc. to inform others about their products and to build relationships with other companies. Representatives of Safko International, Inc. attended to learn from other companies. One such conference was an Innovative Thinking Conference, in which the attendees were involved in brainstorming new marketing ideas.

The tenth subseries, Distribution, documents the expansion of the SenSei System into domestic and foreign markets. Included is background information about various companies and markets, agreements made with other companies, and the process for buying back equipment that distributors were unable to sell. The eleventh subseries, Prospective clients and business contacts, are files for which there is no definitive relationship built with Safko International, Inc. Within these files are letters to prospective clients asking to give them a demonstration, or letters of appreciation for a demonstration given, but no evidence of a follow-up.

Some of the files are of contacts initiated with marketing agencies or distributors that do not appear to have developed into an actual relationship. The last subseries, clients, is composed mostly of invoices and correspondence pertaining to the purchase or lease of SenSei Systems by school districts, individuals, churches, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities. Information about: who the product was shipped to, the cost, representatives or distribution companies responsible for the sale, notes of adaptations to the system for individual needs, assessments by consultants, brief history of some of the individuals who purchased the systems, installation notes, and problems they encountered are found here. Like other files found elsewhere, this subseries is not comprehensive. Many files only include the invoices, but others include more information.

Photographs and Scrapbooks, 1987-1995, is approximately 0.9 cubic feet. Contained are: photographs, negatives, pins, thank you notes, photocopied newspaper clippings, agendas, programs, calendars, memoranda, correspondence, mailers, exhibitor ribbons, stickers, and newsletters. This series is divided into two subseries, each documenting the routine affairs of Safko International, Inc. and the individuals involved.

The first subseries, Photographs and negatives, is mostly promotional photographs of the products or individuals using the products. The second subseries, Scrapbooks, are mostly photographs, but includes other types of documents, and some artifacts. Most photographs found in the scrapbooks are not found elsewhere, but there is some overlap with the first subseries. Photographs in this subseries document board meetings, employees at work, assembling the mass mailings, wall hangings, inside and outside of Safko International, Inc.'s offices, Austin McDaniel Corporation offices, attorney's offices, meetings with TeleNova and InfoLogics, an investment reception, products Safko International, Inc. sold, system modifications, computer screens, the packaged product, setup for taking promotional photographs, setup for presentations, demonstration in a hospital setting, conferences, television interviews, Franklin Halwood, and unidentified individuals. In both subseries, very few of the photographs are captioned.

The seventh series, Audiovisual Materials, 1986-1996, is approximately one cubic foot of materials, encompassing twenty-nine 1⁄2" VHS tapes and four standard audio cassette tapes. Accordingly this series is divided into two subseries, Audio cassettes and Audio visual tapes, both documenting the marketing of the SenSei System. Additionally the second subseries also documents presentations given by Safko International, Inc. representatives and instruction manuals showing how to use the SoftVoice and SenSei systems.

content: This collection is open for research use.

label: Related Materials

content:
Materials at the Archives Center

Disbaility Reference Collection (NMAH.AC.1319)

Materials at Other Organizations

The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA holds several artifacts related to Lon Safko. Accession Lot # X3342.2006 contains:

First RCA TV Sip Controller

First Hospital Bed Nurse Call

Sip Puff IR Controller

Production Version Sip Puff Controller

Smith & Davis Electric Hospital Bed Controller

Sip Puff Modified Mouse

Computer Controlled Telephone

HeadMouse

First SenSei Server (Mac)

Prototype SenSei Server (Mac)

Sip Puff IR Controllers

Sip Puff Accessory Pack

Final SenSei Server Production Model

Final SenSei Server Production Model

SyQuest SenSei Software Back Ups

First CD SenSei Software Back Ups

label: Separated Materials

content:
The Division of Information, Technology, and Society (now Division of Medicine and Science) holds 18 artifacts related to this collection as accession number 2005.0291 including:

1 Computer, with detached cord

Apple II cpu/keyboard

External Drive, ""Apple Disk II""

External Drive, ""Distar""

Magnavox computer monitor 80

4 Diskettes, ""SoftVoice""

Super Disk Demo 1

Super Disk Demo 2

SoftVoice Trainer

1 PC Daughter Board, ""Speech Recognition for Apple II""

1 Mouse Emulator, ""Head Master,"" with parts and manual in shipping box made by Prentke Romich Company

1 Trackball, ""Kensington TurboMouse""

1 Siptroller Case, Prototype, ""Safko International Inc.""

1 Puff Stick Base, ""Gravis"" with a hand piece and a chin piece only

1 Production Sensei Server, ""Version 2.0 Safko International Inc.""

1 Nurse Call Box

2 Remote Chimes, X-10 Powerhouse, Model SC546

2 Modules: 1 for a lamp and 1 for an appliance

1 Headset, ""MicroMint""

1 Phone with appliance module, ""DuoFone 102, Electronic Telephone Amplifier System"" (appliance module, ""Model no. X10-Am286"")

unitid: Collection NMAH.AC.0911

unittitle: Safko International, Inc. Records

title: Safko International, Inc. Records


title: International Union of Nutritional Sciences (with UNICEF) Community Action-Family Nutrition Programmes

label: See more items in

content: Patricia Bath Papers

indexedContent: Patricia Bath Papers

content: Patricia Bath Papers / Series 2: Subject Files

label: Date

label: Container

content: Box 11, Folder 15

label: Archival Repository

label: Type

content: Archival materials

label: Collection Citation

content: Patricia Bath Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

label: Collection Rights

content: Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: Patricia Bath Papers

unittitle: Subject Files


title: Ophthalmology Times and Jack M. Dodick

content: Patricia Bath Papers

indexedContent: Patricia Bath Papers / Series 2: Subject Files

content: Map-folder 3

content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History

content: Archival materials

label: Collection Restrictions

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: Ophthalmology Times and Jack M. Dodick

title: Ophthalmology Times and Jack M. Dodick


title: World Health Organization Meeting Reports on the Prevention of Blindness

content: Patricia Bath Papers

content: Box 20, Folder 13

indexedContent: Archives Center, National Museum of American History

content: Archival materials

content: Collection is open for research.


title: Correspondence received

label: Collection Donor

content: Robinson, V. Gene, 1947-

indexedContent: Robinson, V. Gene, 1947-

content: Bishop V. Gene Robinson Papers

indexedContent: Bishop V. Gene Robinson Papers

content: Bishop V. Gene Robinson Papers / Series 3: Correspondence

content: Box 6, Folder 6

content: Archival materials

content: Bishop V. Gene Robinson Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

content: Collection is open for research.

unittitle: Bishop V. Gene Robinson Papers

unittitle: Correspondence

unittitle: Correspondence received

title: Correspondence received


title: Lippitt, West Warwick, Rhode Island

content: Engman, David

indexedContent: Engman, David

content: Simmons, David

indexedContent: Simmons, David

label: Collection Author

content: Society for Industrial Archeology

indexedContent: Society for Industrial Archeology

content: Starbuck, David, Dr.

indexedContent: Starbuck, David, Dr.

content: Society for Industrial Archaeology Records / Series 11: Addenda / SIA Industrial Archeology Exhibit Photographs and Labels

content: Box 83, Folder 6

content: Archival materials

content: Photographs

content: Society for Industrial Archaeology Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

content: Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

unittitle: Addenda

unittitle: Lippitt, West Warwick, Rhode Island

title: Lippitt, West Warwick, Rhode Island